Southern California -- this just in

Rains prompt road closures in mudslide zone

December 17, 2010 | 4:44
pm

With Los Angeles County crews fearing flooding in the foothills this weekend, county roads in the Station fire burn area will be closed beginning Sunday.

Angeles Forest Highway, Big Tujunga Canyon Road and Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road are scheduled to be closed at 2 a.m. Sunday. Residents will not be permitted to use the roads until they are reopened, according to the county Department of Public Works.

National Weather Service forecasters said the heaviest rainfall of the weekend will begin Saturday night and continue through Sunday morning, with rain falling as much as half an inch per hour in the foothills.

Another potentially stronger storm may arrive in Los Angeles on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"The threat of additional heavy rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday on top of soils that may be approaching saturation could cause some flooding and rockslide concerns," the weather service said.

Residents in areas burned by the Station fire should remove their cars from the streets and monitor radio reports and the county’s public works website for ongoing updates.

A fierce, slow-moving rainstorm in February triggered damaging flooding in La Canada Flintridge in February. A blocked drain caused a torrent of muddy water to flow into more than 40 homes and punched parked cars along Ocean View Boulevard.